The Escape ...

True to tradition I'm long winded, but the point is worth making if it stirs one heart to repentance ...

"Then the LORD God formed the man from the dust of the ground. He breathed the breath of life into the man’s nostrils, and the man became a living person."  Genesis 2:7 (NLT)

What we can know right now with our own human eyes and ears is that we live in a world lost - a world full of suffering, disease and evil. It's a world that once knew nothing of suffering, disease or evil, but it's now suffering all of these things because of a destructive cancer that mankind himself allowed into the world by - choosing to sin. That one choice brought God's judgment against the species of mankind for that one choice made in defiance and disobedience against the God who created mankind for Himself ... and it's only resolution carries with it a judgment of death - ours.

The truth is that every child of mankind born since Adam and Eve made that terrible decision in the garden of Eden was born under the curse of that judgment. And with that one decision, a world that was new, clean and right - "good", in God's eyes, became corrupted and infected with disease and pervasive wickedness. Many of the things that we face on a regular basis today emanated from the very first man's defiant decision long ago against the God that holds all power over him ... and over mankind as a whole. It was mankind's decision - not Gods.

Our future under the curse of God's judgment is dark (decay and physical death) and horrific under His final judgment still to come (eternal death and separation from God completely) without means to escape it. God is just and completely righteous in His judgment, but He's also a God of love, mercy and grace, who in His great wisdom planned from the beginning one means by which each of us as individuals can escape the final judgment we deserve now because of Adam's failure long ago ...

"When Adam sinned, sin entered the world. Adam’s sin brought death, so death spread to everyone, for everyone sinned. Yes, people sinned even before the law was given. But it was not counted as sin because there was not yet any law to break. Still, everyone died—from the time of Adam to the time of Moses—even those who did not disobey an explicit commandment of God, as Adam did. Now Adam is a symbol, a representation of Christ, who was yet to come. But there is a great difference between Adam’s sin and God’s gracious gift. For the sin of this one man, Adam, brought death to many. But even greater is God’s wonderful grace and his gift of forgiveness to many through this other man, Jesus Christ. And the result of God’s gracious gift is very different from the result of that one man’s sin. For Adam’s sin led to condemnation, but God’s free gift leads to our being made right with God, even though we are guilty of many sins. For the sin of this one man, Adam, caused death to rule over many. But even greater is God’s wonderful grace and his gift of righteousness, for all who receive it will live in triumph over sin and death through this one man, Jesus Christ.

Yes, Adam’s one sin brings condemnation for everyone, but Christ’s one act of righteousness brings a right relationship with God and new life for everyone. Because one person disobeyed God, many became sinners. But because one other person obeyed God, many will be made righteous." Romans 5:12-19 (NLT)

He offers that escape only for a time and that provision made by God for our redemption - the means to be forgiven and made reunited with God, the only Way, was the sacrifice of the only perfect person to have walked the earth as a man without sin - the death of His only divine son in our place ...

"Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures. And he said, “Yes, it was written long ago that the Messiah would suffer and die and rise from the dead on the third day. It was also written that this message would be proclaimed in the authority of his name to all the nations,f beginning in Jerusalem: ‘There is forgiveness of sins for all who repent." Luke 24:44-48 (NLT)

The method of our acceptance - our claim to His sacrifice in our place is both simple and yet a harder way to live out as proof of our sincerity in a world that hates Him still and makes sin - so contrary to the spirit of Christ, appealing and pleasing in appearance to our temporary flesh ...

"The jailer called for lights and ran to the dungeon and fell down trembling before Paul and Silas. Then he brought them out and asked, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved, along with everyone in your household.”  Acts 16:29-31(NLT)

I believe that the proof of our sincerity is more than words, will be more important than some teach on the day of final accounting, and that that proof will be clearly visible to God in the content of our hearts, reflected in the truth of our active desire to emulate Christ obediently and our walk in living relationship with Him...

"Imitate God, therefore, in everything you do, because you are his dear children. Live a life filled with love, following the example of Christ. He loved us and offered himself as a sacrifice for us, a pleasing aroma to God. Let there be no sexual immorality, impurity, or greed among you. Such sins have no place among God’s people. Obscene stories, foolish talk, and coarse jokes—these are not for you. Instead, let there be thankfulness to God. You can be sure that no immoral, impure, or greedy person will inherit the Kingdom of Christ and of God. For a greedy person is an idolater, worshiping the things of this world. Don’t be fooled by those who try to excuse these sins, for the anger of God will fall on all who disobey him. Don’t participate in the things these people do. For once you were full of darkness, but now you have light from the Lord. So live as people of light! For this light within you produces only what is good and right and true." Ephesians 5:1-9 (NLT)

From the beginning of time God's made an amazing and extraordinary effort to create and draw mankind to Himself. Without some true effort on our part ... I wonder ... will proof of our belief of Him and acceptance of Christ's sacrifice even exist? 

It's past time to stand up and stand apart from the decaying world unless we choose to perish with it - to be serious and sure of our escape ... because time is short.

"No, O people, the LORD has told you what is good, and this is what he requires of you: to do what is right, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God." Micah 6:8 (NLT)